Now that spring is here, the flora and fauna of the region’s best lakes are starting to re-emerge. To help you find some spots you may not have visited, the Eastern Melburnian has created a list of the region’s best watering holes.

If you have any suggestions for waterfalls and other lakes, feel free to email us at [email protected]

Lilydale’s man-made artificial lake was built between 1988 and 1990 to prevent low-lying parts of the township from flooding. You can walk around the 2.7-kilometre circuit, including the ruins of the old flour mill, or take a canoe or kayak out on the water.

While swimming in the lake is not recommended, youngsters can enjoy the water park facilities, which recycles treated water.

On Saturday mornings, check out the Lilydale Radio Yacht Club’s weekly race meet from 9:30am to 1pm.

The lake is situated at the centre of the 27-hectare Blackburn Lake Sanctuary – home to a range of birds, possums and sugar gliders. Created by damming Kooyongkoot Creek in 1889 and later bought by the Adult Deaf Society in 1909, the area has been a bushland sanctuary since 1965.

A 30-minute lake circuit walk allows you to look out for birds or other animals in the water. The visitor centre is open Sundays from 2-4pm.

Serving as a bluestone quarry from the 1880s to 1996, the pit naturally filled with water to create this man-made lake. Now serving as a recreational fishery, you can chuck in a line to catch a freshwater trout or simply take a seat to watch the ducks and marvel at the main cliff face.

Covering about 68 hectares and spanning across the suburbs of Doncaster, Doncaster East and Templestowe, the park was launched in 1977, with the damming of Ruffey Creek in the 1990s then creating Ruffey Lake.

Walk along the 108-metre boardwalk, take your pick of the many hiking trails available or test out your skills on the disc golf course.

Originally serving as the Lysterfield Reservoir, supplying fresh water to the Mornington Peninsula from 1936 and 1975, Lysterfield Park opened as a recreational facility in 1986.

Swimming is permitted in two designated sandy spots, or you can jump in a canoe or a kayak. With the surrounding park hosting the mountain biking events at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the area also features popular mountain biking trails.

Formed by damming Sandy Creek in 1928, the 8.5-hectare recreational reserve once hosted a caravan park, a kiosk and a miniature railway.

Now, you can stroll along the 1.1-kilometre circuit, cast a fishing line off the bridge or check out the nearby mining history display.

Constructed as part of the Rowville Lakes Estate residential development in the late 1970s, Rowville Lakes consist of three man-made lagoons – named Sutton Lake, Hill Lake and Cogley Lake.

A small island in the middle of the water houses a bird sanctuary, with other activities including hiking, fishing or teeing off at the Rowville Lakes Golf Course.

Originally a hole which provided the clay used by the Haughton Park Brick Company to make bricks during the land boom of the 1880s, the former Shire of Nunawading converted the old clay pit into a swimming hole in 1907.

Since its closure in 1976, it has become the home of the Surrey Park Model Boat Club.

Formed as a flood basin in the late 1970s, the park now hosts recreational fishing off two jetties, a 2.7-kilometre lake loop or the weekly five-kilometre Parkrun event every Saturday from 8am.